Court of Appeals extends freeze on Resado accounts

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) has extended for two more months the freeze order on the bank accounts of embattled State Prosecutor John Resado in relation to allegations that he accepted a bribe in recommending the release of three prominent drug suspects dubbed the “Alabang Boys.”

In a two-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, the former third division of the appellate court extended until June 16 the freeze order covering Resado and his wife’s accounts at Banco De Oro-SM Bacoor branch in Cavite and his account with PSBank in Padre Faura.

The freeze order should have lapsed last April 17, but the CA said the extension is warranted to give the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) time to terminate its ongoing investigation on the accounts.

Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Martin Villarama, Jr. and Rosalinda Asuncion-Vicente.

Earlier, the AMLC said it is not investigating state prosecutor John Resado for plunder in connection with allegations of accepting a bribe for recommending the dismissal of the drug case against drug trafficking suspects Joseph Tecson, Richard Brodett and Jorge Joseph.

The AMLC sought the correction of records of the appellate court, which mentioned in its freeze order last Mar. 5 that Resado was being investigated by the AMLC for a possible plunder charge.

The third division of the CA granted the petition of AMLC.

The alleged bribery was exclusively reported by The STAR on Dec. 23, four days after PDEA received the findings of DOJ prosecutors recommending the dismissal of the complaint their lawyers had filed against the three drug suspects.

It was also reported that a parent of one of the drug suspects allegedly tried to bribe arresting PDEA officials with P20 million for their release. A PDEA official reportedly confirmed an attempt by the drug suspects’ camp to bribe them immediately after the arrest.

The camp of the Alabang Boys had already denied the allegation, arguing that the dismissal of the complaint was because of their strong defense.

Malacañang has since ordered the filing of charges against the drug suspects, overturning the Department of Justice’s dismissal of the case. – Edu Punay